About the Chapter

Welcome!

The Capital Chapter of Women In Defense (WID-DC) is your source for networking, professional development and mentoring with other women leaders in the greater Washington DC area, specifically those working in defense-related industries.

This web site is designed to keep you informed of everything that is going on with WID-DC: events, meetings, seminars, chapter news, and more! New events are added frequently, so keep visiting.

WID-DC, formed in 2003, is the largest chapter of Women In Defense, serving members in the greater Washington DC metropolitan area.

Women In Defense (WID), A National Security Organization affiliated with NDIA, provides its members with opportunities for professional development and networking, cultivating the advancement of women leaders in government and industry professions.

Membership

Membership in WID-DC is automatic when you become a member of the national organization.

Membership in WID is open to all professional women and men whose primary professional activities are related to national defense or any aspect of national security. All WID members are automatically members of NDIA at no additional cost. Benefits of membership include:

• Networking and Professional Development Opportunities
• WID Newsletter
• WID Membership Directory
• Access to WID Job Bank
• WID and NDIA Membership Pins
• Subscription to National DEFENSE (the magazine of NDIA)
• Automatic membership in your local chapter of Women In Defense

Members are strongly encouraged to participate in meetings, seminars, and committee activities to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship between themselves and the organization.

Membership Dues

Annual (1 year) dues: $35
Lifetime membership: $500
Government & Military dues (1 year): Complimentary - Download/View/Print (PDF) application

As a result of WID's status as an affiliate of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), WID members are automatically members of NDIA and eligible for the privileges and rights of both organizations.

Membership must be renewed annually, and renewal fees will be due on your anniversary. For example, if you join Women In Defense in August of 2003, you will renew your membership in August 2004.

Join TODAY!

Sign up online now (WID is at the bottom of the page). Visit http://eweb.ndia.org
Download/View/Print (PDF) application and mail or fax it in, or if you have further questions email Laura O'Neal at loneal@lmi.org .

When mailing in your application, include your check for $35 made out to Women In Defense and mail to:

Women In Defense
2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 400
Arlington, Virginia 22201-3061

Already a member? Interested in serving on the WID-DC Membership Committee? email Laura O'Neal at loneal@lmi.org .

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Leadership

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News & Events

Upcoming Events

2009 Annual Holiday Party:
Members of the Women in Defense Capital Chapter spent an enjoyable evening at the Marriott Crystal City for the Annual Holiday Party in December. The event also included an opportunity for attendees to donate new, unwrapped toys in support of Toys for Tots.

2009 Annual Meeting and Dinner:
	WID National President, Susan Warsaw Ebner, introduces the WID Capital Chapter 2008-2009 Board of Directors at the chapter's Annual Meeting. From Left to Right: Leah Irvin, Kecia Reyes, Camilla K. White, Linda McKnight, Susan Warsaw Ebner, Laura Van Eperen, and Katie Black.
	RADM Elizabeth Hight was the evening's keynote speaker at the Capital Chapter's Annual Meeting and Dinner held at The Army & Navy Club in Washington, DC.
	During the Capital Chapter's Annual Dinner, members and guests enjoyed the networking opportunities.

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Bylaws

Download/View/Print (PDF) Bylaws

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Programs

Women In Defense Capital Chapter Mentorship Program
Are you interested in becoming a Mentor or receiving Mentoring?

Do you feel that you have experience in your field that you would like to share with others starting out? Or are you new in the defense industry and would like to benefit from the experiences of others?

WID DC is establishing a new Mentorship Program designed to fit your needs.

Program Details:

The Mentorship Program is open to all Women In Defense members.

Its purpose is to enhance job skills, foster career development and increase professional growth while providing wisdom, knowledge and support through positive role models.

To kick-off this new program, we are seeking respected, motivational and supportive volunteers from the community of WID DC members who are willing to give their time as Mentors to facilitate growth in less experienced individuals.

We are also looking for individuals who are eager to become Mentees. These individuals should have a desire to learn and a positive attitude towards gaining their Mentor's wisdom and professional insight to further their professional career choices.

Once volunteers are obtained, we will pair the Mentors with those members who seek Mentoring to ease their transition into the workforce, to gain insight into key career moves and/or to gain a greater satisfaction in their professional growth patterns.

If you would like to volunteer to become a Mentor or a Mentee, please email Nicole Rizzolo at nicole.rizzolo@lmco.com.

Community Outreach

The Women in Defense Capital Chapter wants to provide its Chapter members with current information about volunteering in our community, particularly as it relates to supporting active duty military and their families. We try to highlight upcoming or ongoing events in the links menu to the right, and for each organization listed below.

To suggest a new activity, learn more, or to join the Community Outreach committee of WID, please contact Laura Van Eperen at laurav@vepublicrelations.com.

Volunteer Opportunities

USA Freedom Corps Network provides individuals with information about service opportunities that match their interests and talents in their hometowns, across the country or around the world. USAFCN is expanding service opportunities to protect the homeland, to meet important community needs and to extend American compassion around the world through partnerships with these and other organizations that create a holistic volunteer service infrastructure.

A Million Thanks is a year-round campaign to show our U.S. Military Men and Women, past and present, our appreciation for their sacrifices, dedication, and service to our country through letters, emails, and cards. Founded by 15-year old Shauna Fleming, A Million Thanks has sent more than one million thank you notes to members of the U.S. military. Consider writing a letter of appreciation to a soldier.

Operation USO Care Package enables individuals to sponsor a Care Package for a US service member stationed overseas. With the generous support of volunteers, USO Care Packages "stuffs" the packages with items provided by the USO and delivers them to our troops. Each USO Care Package contains at least one prepaid international calling card, one disposable camera, toiletries, sunscreen, and a message of support from a sponsor. Other donated items are included so that the maximum weight of each package is about 2 lbs.

For more information, call Pamela Dickinson, Program Assistant at (703) 696-0994. To join the local USO, visit www.usometrodc.org.

Since 1994, more than 250,000 men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing needed assistance to millions of Americans. AmeriCorps provides trained, dedicated people to help nonprofit groups, both secular and faith-based. Members tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school programs, help communities respond to disasters, and recruit and manage traditional volunteers. At the request of President Bush, AmeriCorps has expanded its work to include projects directly related to homeland security.

Defend America is a web site of the US Department of Defense News about the war on Terror. Through Defend America, you can also sign an online thank you card to members of the US military.

Operation Uplink purchases phone cards and distributes them to servicemen and women who are separated from those they care about.

Through AMVETS Voices from Home allows serving military members and their families and friends to send and receive instant voice e-mail packages so that they can hear the actual voices of their loved ones, regardless of the schedule difficulties, in remote locations around the world.

The Helping Our Heroes Foundation provides a way for donated funds and services to directly reach our injured military and a way for concerned Americans to volunteer to actively support our armed forces.

Monetary Donations

If you want to donate money, there are many organizations that help military families. Each of the branches of the armed services has a military relief society that offer low interest loans and other emergency financial assistance to military families:

Army Emergency Relief is a private nonprofit organization incorporated in 1942 by the Secretary of War and the Army Chief of Staff. AER's sole mission is to help soldiers and their dependents by providing them with emergency financial assistance.

The Navy -Marine Corps Relief Society provides, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when in need; and to receive and manage funds to administer these programs.

The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) is the official charity of the United States Air Force incorporated in 1942 as a non-profit organization whose mission is to help relieve financial distress of Air Force members and their families and to assist them in financing their higher education goals.

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance is an independent non-profit charitable organization established to provide financial aid to the entire Coast Guard family in time of need. Though CGMA works closely with the Coast Guard, it is not part of the Coast Guard. Its mission is to promote the financial stability and general well being of Coat Guard people through interest free loans, grants, and financial counseling.

Volunteer at a VA Hospital: to honor veterans who bore the lamp of freedom in past conflicts.

Support for Families

Many Americans are looking for ways to support members of the military and their families. The following are some of the ways you can express your support for our troops, give time and care to their families, and help strengthen their communities. Volunteer with one of the youth serving organizations helping to tutor or take care of children while a parent or caregiver is stationed away from home. Some of these organizations include the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Camp Fire USA, National 4-H Headquarters and the YMCA of the USA.

Other Opportunities

Donate a calling card to help keep service members in touch with their families:

• Operation Uplink at www.operationuplink.org.

Sign a virtual thank you card at the Defend America:

• Web site at www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html.
  

Sponsors

The Capital Chapter of Women In Defense would like to thank the following organizations for their continued support:

Hays-Hoisington Level Sponsors ($5000):

• Lockheed Martin
• BAE Systems

Holm Sponsors: $2,500:

• KBR

Duerk Sponsors: $2,000:

• None

Brewer Sponsors: $1,000:

• Whitney, Bradley & Brown, Inc.

Are you interested in becoming a WID-DC sponsor? The following levels of sponsorship are available, and donations of any amount are kindly accepted.

Hays-Hoisington Level Sponsors ($5000):

Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington were the first women promoted to the rank of general or admiral in the U.S. military, promoted to the rank of Army brigadier general on June 11, 1970.

• Complimentary membership for five (5) individuals from the sponsoring organization
• Website acknowledgement and link to company website
• Listing in all promotional literature
• Complimentary table at annual meeting and dinner
• 4 Complimentary passes to be used for a WID-DC program (not including the annual meeting and dinner)
• Acknowledgement at annual meeting (plaque of appreciation available upon request)

Holm Sponsors: $2,500

Jeanne M. Holm was the first woman in the Air Force promoted to the rank of brigadier general in 1971.

• Complimentary membership for three (3) individuals from the sponsoring organization.
• Website acknowledgement and link to company website
• Listing in all promotional literature
• 1 Complimentary ticket to annual meeting and dinner
• 2 Complimentary passes to be used for a WID-DC program (not including the annual meeting and dinner)
• Acknowledgement at annual meeting (plaque of appreciation available upon request)

Duerk Sponsors: $2,000:

Alene B. Duerk was the first woman promoted to the rank of rear admiral in the Navy in 1972.

• Complimentary membership for two (2) individuals from the sponsoring organization
• Website acknowledgement and link to company website
• Listing in all promotional literature
• 1 Complimentary pass to be used for a WID-DC programs (not including the annual meeting and dinner)
• Acknowledgement at annual meeting (plaque of appreciation available upon request)

Brewer Sponsors: $1,000:

Margaret Brewer was the first woman promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the Marine Corps in 1978.

• Complimentary membership for one (1) individual from the sponsoring organization
• Website acknowledgement and link to company website
• Listing in all promotional literature
• Acknowledgement at annual meeting (plaque of appreciation available upon request)

For more information on becoming a sponsor, or to make a donation in any amount, contact Linda McKnight at lindamcknight@cox.net.

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Contact Us

Are you a current member interested in serving on a WID-DC committee? Please email the appropriate committee chair for information on how you can get involved.

• Membership: Laura O' Neal
• Programs: Laura Van Eperen
• Sponsorship: Linda McKnight
• Advocacy: Linda McKnight
• Communication: Katie Black
• Community Outreach: Laura Van Eperen
• Mentorship: Nicole Rizzolo

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© 2002-2004 Women In Defense, A National Security Organization - Comments? - Sponsors